Do we know how the Russians acquired Shahed attack drones? Do they have their own production capacity for these drones?

 

Drone factory under construction

In November 2022 Russia and Iran had agreed to the Russian manufacture of the munition, with Iran exporting key components. The Russian manufacturing facility is in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, Tatarstan, with a target of building 6,000 Geran-2s by summer 2025.

If Russia succeeds, a sprawling new drone factory being built could help Russia conserve its dwindling supply of precision munitions. It could impede Ukraine’s effort to retake occupied territory and dramatically advance Moscow’s position in the drone arms race that is remaking modern warfare.

One wonders how long it will take for Ukraine to attempt to destroy the facility or to target the export of key components by Iran.